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Paul Scholes has revealed he will still be doing punditry in the future despite rumours linking him with his first permanent managerial role.

The Manchester United legend is being heavily linked with the current vacancy at boyhood club Oldham and he looks to fill the void which has appeared since he retired from senior football six years ago.

Scholes paved a career as an outspoken television pundit despite being notoriously coy with media duties during his illustrious playing career.

And while the former England international admits he has 'never really liked' punditry he has revealed he will still be in the role in the future despite having to face criticism for his sometimes stern views on United's previous struggles.

"I have stepped off it a bit," Scholes told MEN Sport.

"I remember when I first got offered to do it, I think I was down for 50-60 appearances, which I soon realised was too many. I think I’m down to 10 appearances for BT now.

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"It was difficult at the time watching Man United. It seemed that every game I did was United and it was quite, quite bad, so the situation didn't help. I suppose it could become a little easier now with the way things have turned round.

"I never really liked it, but I’m still doing and I will still be doing it. I’ve still got a contract for another couple of years so I will still do bits, but nowhere near as much. Every so often, which is better."

Scholes will still appear sporadically on television screens analysing the latest developments from United, however the former midfielder has made his desire to get back into coaching obviously apparent.

And the 44-year-old admits he has struggled to fill the unquenchable void which has been left since he retired from playing senior football for the second time back in 2013.

(Image: PA)

Scholes admitted: "I think that’s what makes you, not depressed, but it makes you sad really when for 20 odd years, from leaving school, I've always had something to try to achieve at the end of it. Whether it’s winning a trophy, it was usually trying to win a trophy at the end of it.

"Then you spend five or six years in the media and there is nothing to achieve. I don’t see where there is something to achieve in that. I don't think there is anything to achieve apart from giving comments and I think I’m ready again to try to achieve something.

"It might be a massive failure, I don’t know, if something happens. I just don’t know, but I want that sense of feeling again on a Saturday afternoon to have something to achieve."

After retiring from football Scholes has carved a previously unlikely career as an outspoken pundit on television, a role which often saw him critique United and question their approach under previous managers Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho.

If Scholes does make his way into senior club management then he is likely to be on the receiving end of his own criticism, however the United icon believes he will be able to handle any negativity which could possibly come his own way.

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He continued: "It’s surprised me a bit. I think that’s the thing I probably never realised going into it – whatever you said was all over the place the day after. When you are actually saying it, you’re not doing it for headlines, you say what you think. That’s all I’ve ever done.

"I don’t understand why managers, when they get asked about it, even give it the time of day. It’s not important what pundits think. Managers should just be interested in what’s going on at their own club. What people say, opinions they have, they are just opinions at the end of the day. They don’t have to agree with it.

"It could (happen to me). But with me being in the media side for a little while, I don’t think it will do. I think I’ll understand that what people are saying, right or wrong, it’s pointless getting into arguments with people about it. It’s their opinion. This could change of course."

Scholes continues to be heavily linked with the vacant managerial role at League Two side Oldham, and while the 44-year-old has brushed off rumours linking him with that job, he remains keen to return to football.

However, the former United midfielder admits if he does go into management he will need to adopt different tactics to Sir Alex Ferguson in order to succeed as a manager in the modern football enviroment.

"What type of coach will I be?" Scholes pondered. "You know, I don’t know until I start doing it. I’ve enjoyed it when I’ve stepped in and done little bits. I did a little bit with Salford, a little bit with youth teams, a little bit with the reserves [at United] for six months with Warren Joyce which I learned a lot from.

"But players are different these days, especially young players. The days of screaming and shouting are gone. I’ve got kids myself - 19 and 17 - and you can’t say a word to them without them reacting.

"I think you have to approach it differently possibly to how an Alex Ferguson would have done."